tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84023629667072975302018-05-29T01:45:37.337-04:00Tasha's Tails: Writings from Amy and her caviesKeep up with my cavies and I in our quest to simplify and demystify the care and keeping of guinea pigs.SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-52185103574881418312012-01-27T03:34:00.002-05:002012-01-27T03:44:16.054-05:00Hi folks,<div>I haven't been writing about pigs because, well, I haven't had pigs to write about. Livvy, Tasha and Rocky went to <a href="http://ocgpr.blogspot.com">Oswego County Guinea Pig Rescue</a> to find new homes this summer, and I have since been pigless. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am going to leave this blog intact so that those of you who use it for reference may continue to do so :) and I may make an occasional post here or there if something comes to mind.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also my etsy shop kind of dropped out of existence in the same manner as the blog, mostly because when I moved I didn't really have the means anymore to keep it going, and my priorities changed. I am considering getting it up and running again [I have a TON of leftover fabric] but I wouldn't be able to do custom things, just pre-mades. I will still donate to OCGPR a percentage of the proceeds.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you guys have any questions or suggestions my ears are open!</div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-47262382432437193402011-04-13T23:14:00.003-04:002011-04-13T23:17:52.177-04:00Wordless Wednesday featuring baby Daisy<a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4501488742_20b1d7a0c8.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4501488742_20b1d7a0c8.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-22285768092406763642011-03-23T23:38:00.001-04:002011-03-23T23:39:39.432-04:00Unfortunately we lost Sophie-Mo tonight at about 11:15pm. She suffered very little. She will be sorely missed.SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-60137341497628187642011-03-19T20:05:00.003-04:002011-03-19T20:26:38.003-04:00News.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2130/4509661262_e4df734c1b_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2130/4509661262_e4df734c1b_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><b>The Re-homing.</b><div>I found someone who wants to adopt all four of the pigs. She is an hour and a half away and we're driving to meet her tomorrow.<br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Sophie-Mo.</b></div><div>Mo's health has been on a slow but steady decline. A recent trip to the vet revealed that it's due to old age. She currently weighs in at a frail 1lb 4oz, which is less than she has ever weighed. When I got her in '07 she was around 2lbs, before she started losing weight she was around 1lb 9oz. </div><div>This morning just as I was leaving for work I saw Livvy, Tasha and Rocky all gathered around the food dish eating their breakfast. My white fluff was nowhere to be seen. Oh no. </div><div>She was laying under the hay rack, not interested in food at all. My poor lady. I eventually was able to convince her that pellets were delicious and this evening when I got home, I made her some home-made Critical Care mash with Sweet Meadow pellets, endive, maroon carrots, organic blueberries,[all of her faves] and a tiny bit of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar. She is currently chowing down, but still not doing great.</div></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-41543061660056325162011-03-16T22:52:00.002-04:002011-03-16T22:57:30.359-04:00Wordless Wednesday featuring Ferdinand<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5533870066_8b79a05965.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5533870066_8b79a05965.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-84149212482582860542011-03-04T20:48:00.003-05:002011-03-04T21:05:16.779-05:00Oh deary me.Usually when I haven't written in a while, I make some comment about what a bad blogger I am or how things have changed drastically. <div>They have. I am having to do something I never thought I'd have to do.<div><br /></div><div>I have to say good-bye to half of my herd. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, it's true. I feel like a terrible pet owner but the truth is, I should probably have done this a long time ago, when they were younger. It would have been much easier on all parties involved.</div><div>There are several reasons why I need to do this.</div><div><br /></div><div>1.] I am allergic to them. And not just a little. Sneezing, runny nose, itchy mouth/eyes, watery eyes, etc. are not just symptoms I get when I touch one of them, pick them up or hold them. I have them all the time. I have been miserable since we moved out of the yellow house in the beginning of February. I am also allergic to the hay, but not as bad.</div><div><br /></div><div>2.] I don't have the space. I've had to split them up and most of them are living in pet store cages. No one is in an adequately sized cage right now. This makes changing their cages even worse because that's when I start sneezing horrendously and the mucous starts a-flowin'. Having to go through that once is bad enough, but having to go through it five times is a nightmare. I take allergy medication on the day that I change their cages, which helps a little, but not much.</div><div><br /></div><div>3.] I am physically not able to care for all of them. I was supposed to have a surgery on my ankle to remove built-up scar tissue from an old injury. I have been delaying it for over a year due to lack of insurance. It has been slowly getting more and more painful to walk. I cannot take pain medication for it, as even the strongest of doses does just about nothing. Every time I have to change their water, feed them, play with them, etc. I have to go up and down a flight of stairs, which is very difficult for me. I don't know when I will have the surgery but even after that I won't be able to walk for about a month. </div><div><br /></div><div>4.] None of this will change any time soon. I am not able to care for all of my cavies, and I am not doing right by them keeping them in their current conditions. Sophie-Mo, Rocky, Natasha, and Olive will be staying with me and I hope to get a good-sized cage built for them as soon as I can, and get them back on fleece, which should help. </div><div><br /></div><div>You can see their Guinea Pig Home page <a href="http://www.guineapighome.com/listings/showproduct.php?product=1656&amp;cat=4">here</a>.</div></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-2669327035041043192011-01-03T19:06:00.003-05:002011-01-03T19:31:12.407-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5310448161_eb47795a8f_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5310448161_eb47795a8f_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />After quite the [unannounced] hiatus, I'm back! For now I am taking it easy on etsy and I'm going to try and just focus on blogging for now.<div><br /><div><i><b>Hey! Exciting news!</b></i></div><div>I am considering having a monthly/bi-monthly Guest Blogger. Someone who writes another blog, be it small or fairly big, writing an article of their choosing [relating to guinea pigs, or at the very least pets]. I'll start an archive of these guest bloggings, which will be located on the lefthand sidebar. If you would like to be a Guest Blogger, please send me a sample of your work/website/blog, your name, and what your article subject would be. You can find my email at the Contact Info link on the lefthand sidebar.</div></div><div>For example, if I were entering my entry would be,</div><div><i>"Amy C., "Tasha's Tails" http://tashastails.blogspot.com</i></div><div><i>My article would be about home medical kits for small animals."</i></div><div>If chosen, you'll be given a minimum of 1 month's notice.</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5082/5310472959_5a9c06d883_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><div><br /></div><div>Also if you have not yet seen it, I have made a Bio page for the blog, <a href="http://tashastails.blogspot.com/p/what-is-this.html">go check it out</a>! It's on the lefthand sidebar under "What Is This?"</div><div><br /></div><div>And yes, I am still working on my medical kit post. :)</div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-50442918642920310002010-11-26T06:10:00.005-05:002011-01-10T19:09:34.033-05:00You should probably read this.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5208954426_2c985aa77e_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5208954426_2c985aa77e_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I've always had a pretty good idea of what my limits are. But sometimes you have to <i>cross</i> the line to know where the line is. I don't know what I was thinking, when I crossed the line, but it was probably something along the lines of "well, if I turn around here, I'm just a wimp." Yeah, guess what.<div><br /></div><div>I'm not a wimp. </div><div><br /></div><div>But I went from working 0 hours a week to 50-60. Plus being at the shelter. One of my jobs is extremely physically demanding, and my other job demands a lot of patience and focus, and I have to transfer from one to the other almost instantly [I have about 20 minutes to change and let my hair down]. I don't like complaining about having to work, because everyone has to work, and I don't respond well to sympathy. I hope that very soon I will not have to work more than perhaps 35 hours a week between both jobs. Until then, though, I won't be able to do much posting. And I am re-vamping my etsy shop. The focus will no longer be on custom items, and for the time being I've discontinued the piggy pads. I do hope to bring them back soon but I need to work on the design a bit. Few things are perfect the first time.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5208954926_78dda9324f_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div>One last thing. I've stumbled upon a blog that is hauntingly similar to mine [formatting, writing style, topics, etc]. I'm not naming names, because I have more class than that. I just wanted to say that it's pretty childish to play copycat, and <i>this</i> borders on plagiarism. I don't understand the motivation behind it, but no matter. </div><div><br /></div><div>I realize I'm not the first person to blog about cavy care, but when I make a blog post I like to think it's original. I don't take an existing post of someone else's, cleverly re-word it, and slap my name on it. Please stop being lame.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's about as whiny and petty as this blog is gonna get, folks. Prepare for my upcoming post about our piggy first aid kit at the shelter, and at the yellow house. </div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-53128222648777525662010-11-23T12:22:00.002-05:002010-11-23T12:25:09.262-05:00Tumbleweeds.This blog seems abandoned! <div>I'm really sorry; I have been up to my ears in excuses for why I haven't written. I've had to make some major changes to my lifestyle and my etsy shop. I am working on a post at the moment, and I hope to have it done by the weekend. Please stay tuned.</div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-72074412658550762482010-10-23T13:36:00.004-04:002010-10-23T14:14:04.225-04:00Contest Winners!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1172/5108151470_6398b25946_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1172/5108151470_6398b25946_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The contest is over and I've chosen the winner and runner-up. I would like to thank everyone who entered, I got some really adorable photos and I have uploaded all of them to my Flickr account to be enjoyed by all. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/sets/72157625099871533/with/5108151470/">See them here</a>.<div>If you submitted more than two photos, I chose from the first two that you sent me, since the rule was only two per person. The way I chose these was by having my roommate open al of the files so I didn't know who sent what. These photos were chosen based solely on their snuggle/cute-factor.</div><div>Now, on to the fun. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Congratulations to Emmy and Heather!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Emmy is our winner, with her photo of Pippin, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/5108155652/">seen here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And Heather is our runner-up, with her photo of "baby rats," <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/5108145766/">seen here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like I said I got a lot of really great photos, and it was tough to choose from all of them. So I have also chosen the top 5 photos [besides Emmy and Heather's, of course,] and I would like to offer the takers of these photos 10% off their entire next purchase at my shop. This does exclude shipping but there is no time limit, and I do ship all over the world.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/tags/top5/">View the Top 5 here.</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1263/5107551053_deb2e77580_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>How does this all work?</i></b> For our winner and runner up, simply choose "other" when you get to checkout. If you purchase more than your $25 or $15 worth of stuff [remember, shipping included], I will invoice you via paypal for the remaining balance.</div><div style="text-align: left;">If you're in the Top 5, you can Convo me in Etsy and tell me what you'd like to order, I'll make a custom listing for you with the 10% taken off. Be sure to mention that you were in the Top 5 for this photo contest!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>What about the sale? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I did mention that I was planning a sale shortly after this. Unfortunately though I am too darn busy with my two jobs do stock up for it right now. But I do have </span>something<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> planned, don't you worry.</span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-83655995716683164102010-10-21T22:33:00.006-04:002010-10-21T22:50:46.106-04:00Photo Contest Reminder<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4921576054_6cf564865d_m.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px; " src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4921576054_6cf564865d_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The photo contest is supposed to end tonight but I am extending it a day because I'm really not going to have time to look at the photos until Saturday.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Please send your submissions to SilverBeatShop [at] yahoo [dot] com. Remember, Winner gets $25 worth of goodies from my shop, Runner up gets $15 worth! This does include custom items AND shipping. </div><div style="text-align: left;">For more info, see <a href="http://tashastails.blogspot.com/2010/09/snuggle-up-photo-contest.html">this post</a>.</div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-38140424392306302822010-10-17T12:27:00.004-04:002010-10-17T12:42:07.956-04:00Guinea pigs at the CNYSPCA.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cnyspca.org/images/animals/5501.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 213px;" src="http://www.cnyspca.org/images/animals/5501.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I am now *officially* the girl in charge of the cavies at the <a href="http://cnyspca.org/">CNYSPCA</a> in Mattydale, NY. Which means a lot of changes in care, diet, grooming, and cleaning will be made.<div><br /> <div><b>Now</b>.</div><div>The pigs are being kept in fairly small cages in an ex-storage room in the back of one of the cat rooms. Basically anyone who wants one can have one, for the $35 adoption fee. They're kept on newspaper bedding, changed daily, which isn't great but the fact that it's changed daily is definitely a plus. It's better than keeping them on shavings. They are on a diet of Sweet Meadow pellets [which I provided] and a handful of hay a day. They get veggies whenever I get in there to give them veggies, so a couple of times a week.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Soon</b>.</div><div>I am drafting a daily care/feeding schedule and a list of acceptable pellet foods for the shelter director to post to the kennel staff. Right now I personally am okay with them being on paper bedding. They're not going to love it, but I will make sure that it gets changed daily. Veggies will be my responsibility to get to them, which isn't a huge deal for me. I have also been told that I am free to set up a "floor time" space for them whenever the bunnies are out, which will be awesome.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Later</b>.</div><div>My long-term goal for the guinea pigs is to move them out of the cat storage room and into the rabbit room. I am working with "the rabbit guy" [Bob] on designing a cage setup for the bunnies and the piggies that is affordable, large, sturdy, easy to clean, preferably mobile [on wheels], and easy on the eyes.</div><div>I am also collecting all of my fleece scraps and will be making the pigs some patchwork piggy pads for their swanky new cages. </div><div><br /></div><div>Right now we have three single pigs- Jamie, Tyler, and George. They appear all to be female. And we have one pair, Lucy and Ethel [female as well]. I will be posting updates about my experiences with the shelter pigs and whatnot. </div></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-54250279947611164072010-10-16T19:48:00.004-04:002010-10-16T20:16:31.494-04:00What's Going On?!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4920995411_09bd162bf1_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4920995411_09bd162bf1_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Hi Everyone! <div>Life is busy these days in the yellow house. Some big decisions are being made, some big paychecks are being earned, and some big time-budget cuts are being made.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rocky</b>.</div><div>It looks like Rocky is a keeper. He is very old, that's for sure. He's probably lived his whole life alone, and lord knows how long he's been dealing with this impaction problem, but even with a big cage, a HAFF [Hay and Fresh Foods] diet and regular cleanings, I have to "squeeze" him at least once daily. My vet said that neutering him would have little if any effect on his chronic impactions. He is obviously uncomfortable, and I just want him to be comfortable and happy for the rest of his life. </div><div>Because I don't have the money right now to get Laika and Ferdie spayed, and because I'm not sure if I even really want to put them through that procedure unless absolutely necessary, AND because I do not want to mess up the "dynamic" of the sows' cage, I have decided that I am going to adopt a buddy for Rocky. Probably an older male (3-4). I would love a Peruvian if I had the choice.</div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4642974392_42296636eb_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div>Rocky's QT period is over, his URI has subsided and his infected rump is growing fur. He is moving into the girls' room for now, And I will work on building him a C&amp;C cage and getting him a buddy within the next month.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Winnie and Milo</b>.</div><div>Winston and Milo are doing very well at my mother's daycare. I call them my "satellite" pigs. The kids love them and are learning a lot and my mom is warming up to them. I will get some photos and do a special write-up about my take on guinea pigs in day cares, classrooms, and children's rooms someday soon.</div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-27550240058042433792010-10-06T19:16:00.001-04:002010-10-06T19:17:18.761-04:00Wordless Wednesday: Where was this photo taken?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4920839735_0b6f56e808.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4920839735_0b6f56e808.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-15260019863960664842010-10-02T19:08:00.003-04:002010-10-02T19:22:13.340-04:00Photo Contest ReminderHi everyone! Only 19 days left to enter my "Snuggle Up" Photo contest! I have only gotten a couple of submissions so far...<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*The photo does <b>not</b> have to be of a guinea pig. It can be any animal*</div><div style="text-align: center;">*I am now going to allow up to 2 entries per person*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here are a few examples from my own collection [click the image to view the large version]:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/4921595250/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4921595250_a00dc80188_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/4501479956/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4501479956_f3777579f9_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/4154000829/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2495/4154000829_333b3a42ff_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/4162825524/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/4162825524_7415e02c42_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/4479583933/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4479583933_eea8fbaced_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">View the photo contest rules and how to enter <a href="http://tashastails.blogspot.com/2010/09/snuggle-up-photo-contest.html">here</a>.</div></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-87840358825393708072010-09-29T22:07:00.007-04:002010-09-29T23:02:08.817-04:00Introduction: Rocky<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5035248584_c4f8848d73_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5035248584_c4f8848d73_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Phew! The past week has been utter insanity. So much running around, moving this, saving that, dropping things off and picking things up! <div><br /><div>Let's start from the very beginning.</div><div><br /><div>Saturday when I was at the farmer's market, I asked the farmer I buy my greens form if she would please bag up some of her scraps for the piggies at our local shelter. Later that day we went to the feed store for a bale of hay and to deliver some composting worms, and then headed to the shelter.</div><div><br /></div><div>While we were doling out the greens to the shelter bunnies, Bob, a volunteer at the SPCA who worked with me and a few others on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/4935363722/">t</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/4935363722/">he swamp rescue</a>, met up with us and told me about a guinea pig they had who was down on his luck. He had been at the shelter for a few weeks and had "something wrong with his butt." We went to see what was up down there and it was immediately clear to me that poor "Rocky" was impacted... pretty badly. Unfortunately I didn't have any experience dis-impacting piggies and the last thing I wanted to do was do it wrong and make a bigger mess out of the situation. I promised Rocky I would come back for him, and set him back down in his cage.</div><div>I went back on Monday, after a doctor's appointment, to meet with the vet tech there and do the deed. I was shocked to find that not only was the mass no longer sticking out of Rocky like a cork, but there didn't seem to be any obstruction when I poked around with q-tip after q-tip. At any rate, Rocky was in poor shape and I had already made up my mind that I wasn't leaving without him. I left all of my contact information with the tech, got some kisses from her three-legged pit bull and headed home with Rocky in tow.</div><div><br /></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5035247614_0734d02d34_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><div>Driving down the main road near our house I saw a little yorkshire terrier trott</div><div>ing down the sidewalk. He had a collar and tags but no leash and no person. It had begun to rain. I told Scott that I would 'scoop him up real quick and be home in five minutes.' Since this is Rocky's introduction I'll make a long story short, suffice it to say that I was not home in five minutes. I spent nearly two hours in the rain with this dog, until finally he let me drape my handkerchief over his face, pick him up and tote him home. He had recently been re-homed to our area and escaped from his yard, he was very scared and very obviously lost, but we contacted his owners and got him home safe.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rocky was a sneezing, wheezing, shedding mess when I got home with the pup. I called the vet immediately and jammed him in for an appointment on Wednesday. I suspected he had mange mites--due to a bald patch on his hind end--and a URI in addition to his impaction. </div><div>At the vet today we were relieved to learn that rocky did not, in fact, have mites. He has a bacterial infection on his rump, a URI, and the vet was able to dis-impact mister Rocky in one fell swoop. The pig who had been silent since I got him home let out a shriek so loud that all the dogs in the kennels began barking and some even howled! Poor boy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our doctor thinks that his impactions may be chronic, but proper diet will definitely improve his condition. We're also thinking he may be a bit older [3-4+], since he seems to have limited control of his muscles back there.</div><div>The little man is safe and sound now in my big 2'x4' quarantine cage. He had a pretty poor diet at the shelter [where I am now a volunteer] so he is enjoying his hay, veggies, and seed-free pellets!</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/5035248220_54a5d156f4_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div><b><i>Is he a resident? </i></b>It's not official yet, but my mom is taking Milo and Winston for a "test run" this week, to see if they like living in the day care, and if she likes having them there. So far all looks well. We have set them up in the "quiet" room, so if need be, they can be closed off from the kids. Their cage is just high enough that the kids can look, but not touch, and we've attached a crib bumper to the outside of the cage so no-one bumps their head accidentally.</div><div>If my mom likes Milo and Winnie, I'd be perfectly happy letting them be permanent residents of my mother's in-home daycare. And if my vet thinks that having Rocky neutered will improve his condition, or at the very least not make it any worse, there is a distinct possibility that he could be a permanent resident.</div></div></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-57768761948546894992010-09-28T23:02:00.005-04:002010-09-29T23:01:44.174-04:00Number Eight.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5034630175_eb68c1fb05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5034630175_eb68c1fb05.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">More on this story as it develops.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tashastails.blogspot.com/2010/09/introduction-rocky.html">Meet Rocky Here.</a></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-52034437027168983472010-09-22T15:22:00.002-04:002010-09-22T15:32:52.564-04:00Yummy New Fabrics<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5014971545_d15c4d5367_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5014971545_d15c4d5367_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I went to Jo-Ann's last night after picking up my CSA goodies, and bought sooo much fabric. Mostly flannel prints, as I really need more selection in my shop. I bought a lucky 13 flannel prints, and I believe I got 5 new polar fleece prints. I do plan to go back, but I only had so much cash on hand. You can see my selection of flannels <b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45118706@N02/tags/flannel/">here.</a> </b>I was so excited... It's been a long time since I spent more than $40 in one place that wasn't the farmer's market or the grocery store. Special thanks to Chris, the nice cutting girl who was patient with me and talked to me about her guinea pig while her co-workers looked on in horror at the mountain of fabric on the cutting table.<div><br /></div><div>More things to be happy about... I have secured two jobs, and neither one is going anywhere anytime soon. Eeeee I'm so happy! This dreary rainy gray day can suck it!</div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-66575266133863421352010-09-21T17:10:00.008-04:002010-10-02T19:21:55.082-04:00"Snuggle Up" Photo Contest<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">PHOTO CONTEST</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4479582475_30e6129206.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4479582475_30e6129206.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I am planning a sale for November and I'm in need of some cute photos. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is the first contest/giveaway I've done, so here goes:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">1.] The theme of this photo contest is "Snuggle Up," please take that into consideration when entering.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">2.] Entries must be e-mailed to SilverBeatShop [at] yahoo [dot] com.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">3.] No more than two photos/entries per person.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">4.] Brownie points if your photo also features one of my products.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">5.] No Stealing! The photo you submit MUST be your own.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">6.] Entries will be accepted until 12:00AM [Midnight] EST, October 21, 2010. That gives you a whole month!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">7.] The winner and runner-up will be announced October 23, 2010. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">8.] The winner will receive $25 worth of goodies from my etsy shop. The runner-up will receive $15 worth of goodies from the shop.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9.] The photos of the winner and runner-up will be used in my newsletter </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(join by emailing SilverBeatShop [at] yahoo [dot] com, with the subject "subscribe),</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> shop listings, etc and the photographers will be credited. Please include a website, if you have one, when you enter.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">10.] Ready... GO!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">EDIT: I am just feeling so darn snuggly today, <b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c9978c55e748eef7c07088c/snuggle-up">I made a treasury.</a></b></span></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-48340777478217961142010-09-19T13:06:00.004-04:002010-09-19T14:32:50.509-04:00Vet/Emergency Funds<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4480227414_9840359ce0_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" />Hi everyone, happy Sunday! I'm writing to you today about having a Vet/Emergency fund for your little ones. This applies not only to guinea pigs, but any pet. It is always a good idea to have extra cash set aside so that, no matter the circumstance, you can give your friend the care he/she needs.<div><br /></div><div>This is the first question you need to address when starting a vet fund: <i><b>How much should I be saving up? </b></i>The answer varies, depending on how old your animals are, how many you have, what kind are they [cavies or chow chows? rabbits or rhodesian ridgebacks?], and other questions. This is definitely something that you need to sit down and brainstorm on your own, but I will give you the guidelines I came up with way back before I adopted my bunnies.</div><div><br /></div><div>An emergency could be a one-time visit, a couple hundred dollars and everything's fixed, or it could be a <a href="http://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=36095&amp;start=0&amp;postdays=0&amp;postorder=asc&amp;highlight=&amp;sid=1d743ea401d54afaca89373f1d692bb3">long drawn-out process</a>. You really should plan for either. I recommend at least $500-700 per guinea pig, depending on your average vet bill/ER bill. To give you an example, the vet I see regularly is $45 per visit, but my emergency vet (Cornell) is nearly $200 for a fairly small emergency.</div><div>For rabbits, it's a good idea to have at least $700-900 on hand The reason that number is slightly higher is because folks are more likely to have 2+ guinea pigs, compared to one or two rabbits [not true for everyone, of course]. But if you have three guinea pigs, and one gets very sick, you have at least $1500 in care funds for it. Whereas, if you have one rabbit and it gets very sick, you only have $900 in care funds.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2170/4509026027_a0e4b6486a_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div>There is no set amount, no limit, to how much you should have saved, but the numbers I've given should cover you for basic emergencies. In five years keeping rabbits and guinea pigs I've only had to go to the ER vet once for Benner [<a href="http://tashastails.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-friend-has-joined-thousand.html">Newman</a>'s brother] about a week before his death--he wasn't eating and his regular vet was on vacation--the only other emergencies I've had was Sophie-Mo and Olive's emergency spays [$240 each], and Newman's upper respiratory infection, which went downhill so fast after I noticed it that we couldn't get him to a vet in time.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's best to have a vet fund <i><b>before</b></i> you adopt your friends, since almost no vet these days will accept a payment plan. [many do take <a href="http://www.carecredit.com/">Care Credit</a> though, which is worth looking into if you have a lot of animals and no vet fund]. Some vets will work out a payment plan if you have a particularly hefty bill and you've been a client for a certain amount of time. My vet allows this for me, and I usually have my balance paid off within a month. I do this so that I don't have to take money out of our emergency fund if I don't need to.</div><div><br /></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4268510597_162987f2df_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><div>It's also <i><b>very</b></i> important that you register with a vet <b><i>before</i></b> an emergency arises. Our emergency vet requires a $60 registration fee for each animal, so for my 9, that's $540. Do I have all of them registered? No. Three of my animals <i>are</i> registered there though, one of whom is still living; and the vet knows me from the House Rabbit Society. Some clinics, however, provide emergency care only to registered clients, whose animals have already had one routine check-up with them. Our regular vet clinic is one of these clinics, but our exotics vet doesn't do emergency care regularly, so we have to have a back-up.</div><div>The moral of the story being, have a vet fund and a vet before you need one.</div><div><br /></div><div>I may add to this later, but for now I'm filing this in <a href="http://tashastails.blogspot.com/search/label/cutting%20back">Cutting Back</a> and <a href="http://tashastails.blogspot.com/search/label/how%20do%20you%20do%20it">HDYDI</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-72757304976636918322010-09-15T23:19:00.003-04:002010-09-15T23:32:21.348-04:00Wordless Wednesday starring Miss Abbey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4484525598_2396daabd8.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4484525598_2396daabd8.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-11562637780274800912010-09-12T21:55:00.000-04:002010-09-12T22:11:27.901-04:00Social Sunday No. 6Hey folks. I hope your month's been good.<div> <div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4921595250_a00dc80188_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><div>Quick little updates....</div><div>+ I have installed a "how to navigate this blog" page at the top left column... you should all check it out.</div><div>+ My etsy shop now has a mailing list. I will be using it to notify folks about sales, new products being launched, etc. I'm only going to be sending out probably 1-2 [no more than 3, ever] emails per month. You can join by emailing silverbeatshop [at] yahoo [dot] com</div><div>+ Due to more insanity than I've dealt with in a while, I'm jobless. Again. It's making me really moody.</div><div>+ The other night I accidentally deleted 25 comments. My apologies.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, onto the creamy nougat-y center.</div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i>What's one change you've made recently that you're super proud of?</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Answer:</b> I cleaned out the garage and it makes for a really great storage space. I've got all of my old kennels and cages in there, plus 4 bales of hay, extra towels, my vermicompost bins... soon to add more!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>WELCOME NEW FOLLOWERS, Please do join the fun!</div></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-74886311814629848082010-09-09T19:24:00.000-04:002010-09-11T13:11:47.109-04:00Fleece Bedding Breakdown.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4921581130_13d90a2951_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4921581130_13d90a2951_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div>This post, as the title suggests, is a breakdown of the ins and outs of <a href="http://tashastails.blogspot.com/search/label/fleece">fleece bedding</a>. As a newbie I found <a href="http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/bedding/21568-fleece-project-study.html">the GPC Forum post</a> to be wordy, long and a little confusing. So I have taken the main post, plus the more helpful of the replies, and boiled them down to this user-friendly post.</div><div><br /></div><i>What is it?</i><div>Polar fleece is a 100% polyester fabric, made from recycled plastic bottles. It's super-soft, doesn't rip easily or fray, and once it has been "broken in" [by tossing it in the washing machine a couple of times] it wicks any liquid from the surface, which makes it ideal for small animals such as guinea pigs, ferrets and rats, who have bare feet and carry their bodies so low to the ground and thus are particularly vulnerable to urinary tract infections.</div><div><i><br /></i><div><i>Where can I find it?</i></div><div>You can find polar fleece at Big Box-Marts, thrift stores [fleece throw blankets], fabric and crafting supply stores such as Jo-Ann Fabrics and Hancock Fabrics. Fabric supply stores and some Wal-Marts have many colors and patterns of polar fleece available for purchase by-the-year. All you need to do is let them know how much you need. Most bolts of polar fleece are 60" wide, so for, say, a 2x4 cage [28"x56"] you'd only need 1 yard [36"x60"]. Most places that offer by-the-yard cuts will also have fleece throws available, which come already cut and hemmed; I find these usually work perfectly for a 2x3 or 2x3.5-sized C&amp;C cage, or a similarly sized cage. If possible, you should get anti-pill polar fleece, as it will last longer than just regular polar fleece. It's also best to get two sets of fleece and whatever you'll be using underneath it [towels, etc], for an easy cage cleaning.</div><div><i><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4920981177_dbb3ecdba8_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>How much is this going to cost?</i></div><div>That question is best answered <a href="http://tashastails.blogspot.com/2010/05/cutting-back-episode-4-bedding.html">here.</a></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>How do I get the fleece ready for pigs?</i></div><div>Make sure you have a good absorbent material to go underneath the fleece. Mattress pads, towels, puppy training pads and newspaper are all common choices. Fleece itself is <b>not</b> absorbent, it simply wicks liquid away from the surface. It needs somewhere to wick the liquid to. If you use fleece and fleece alone you'll be sorely disappointed. </div><div>Also make sure that you send your fleece through at least 2 wash cycles; 3 if you have a front-loading washer. In my experience, you do not need to use detergent, and you don't necessarily need to tumble-dry it between washings.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>How do I set it up in my cage?</i></div><div>The best way to set up your cage so that your fleece doesn't become a mess is to set up a <a href="http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/11190">kitchen area</a> and use a <a href="http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/9020">hay rack</a>. Your pigs will do most of their "business" in this area, as an added perk.</div><div>As far as putting down the fleece, first layer your towels 3-4 layers thick, or use 2-3 layers of mattress pads. Place your fleece over the top of the towels/pads, and tuck the fleece under the towels [you'll want to leave about 4"-6" on either side of your fleece blanket]. If you find that your pigs are burrowing under the fleece you can use bricks or binder clips to secure the perimeter fleece.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>This all sounds like a lot of work.</i></div><div>It doesn't have to be. Cute and stylish cage liners are available online in a number of places.</div><div>I make customized cage liner pads, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/55933926/patchwork-piggy-pad-made-to-order-for-a">available here.</a> And so do a few other folks, <a href="http://www.piggybedspreads.com/">here</a>, <a href="http://jenscustomcrafts.com/ourshop/cat_273315-Cage-Liners.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.sewing4acause.com/cart/Cageblankets.php">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/4972580612_fcef44daaf_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>How do I clean/care for it?</i></div><div>For regular upkeep you'll want to sweep or vacuum your fleece. Every 4-7 days you'll need to thoroughly sweep/vacuum/shake out the fleece and throw the fleece and towels in the washing machine. Never use fabric softener. Line or tumble dry. I prefer line drying, as the fleece always seems to smell fresher. How often you'll need to wash your fleece depends on your cage size, number of pigs, their age, and etc. For more cleaning tips, go <a href="http://tashastails.blogspot.com/2010/09/tiny-tips-no-2-fleece-care.html">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div></div><div>Did I miss anything? Please comment with questions/concerns/praise.</div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-77525138224877250242010-09-03T00:09:00.000-04:002010-09-06T13:43:15.321-04:00Tiny Tips no. 2: fleece care.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4920993717_4a825b8638_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4920993717_4a825b8638_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I am in love with fleece bedding. I have already said this, probably multiple times. It makes so many aspects of my life so much easier. But occasionally, there are bumps in the road. In this Tiny Tips post we will address some of the problems that people encounter with fleece bedding, and how to fix them.<div><br /><div><b>1.] Hay sticks to it.</b></div><div>This is easily solved with a small hand rake, a cat litter scoop, or if you lack that kind of hardware, slipping on a latex glove and</div><div>picking it up with those wonderful things called your hands.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>2.] Poop.</b></div><div>Hands do not work so well here. There are better tools for the job. Many people use a small handbroom and mini dustpan. If your cage is on the floor, upgrade to a regular broom and dustpan. Occasionally I throw my mini broom into the wash for a thorough cleaning, because I'm like that.</div><div>I know a gal who swears by <a href="http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/hot-tips/43169-care-soup-ladle-ultimate-pooper-scooper-fleece.html">using a soup ladle</a> to scoop poop, and if you've got one of those little hand-held vacuums hanging around, I haven't ever tried one but I hear they work great. </div><div>When to be on poop patrol is mostly up to you. I sweep about every other day. If you have a <a href="http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/about-cages/57369-i-expanded-again.html">vastly expansive cage</a>, you may not need to sweep at all; just shake out the fleece before you do your regular washing.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3.] Laundering: fur</b></div><div>Cleaning the filter in your washing machine regularly can keep fur from building up in there. An alternative to this is to run a rinse cycle after washing with only water and non-chlorine bleach or vinegar, OR you can thoroughly shake out your fleece and place it in a washing bag, or a duvet cover, to keep the fur contained.</div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/4839047311_2bd67d0eea_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div><b>4.] Stank/cleanliness</b></div><div>After a few months of using fleece I started noticing a stinkyness that wouldn't go away even after a washing and line-drying. This can be tackled a few ways.</div><div>a.) When laundering your fleece and towels, run them through a rinse cycle first, THEN a full wash cycle. This gets most of the nastiness out so that you're not just shampooing and up-covering the stink of urine-soaked towels. </div><div>b.) Add a cup of baking soda or vinegar to the wash cycle, along with the detergent. Be sure also not to use too much detergent as it can build up in the fabric and irritate your pigs' skin.</div><div>c.) Sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom layer of towels when you are changing your pigs' linens. Though many people hate to admit it, animals [and people] SMELL. It's a fact of nature. By adding baking soda to your pig's towels/litterbox, you can absorb most of this unpleasantness.</div><div>d.) Line-dry your fleece and towels. Sun exposure will kill any yucky/stinky stuff in your towels and fleece and all that fresh air, sunshine and unicorn saliva will leave them smelling fresh and clean.</div><div><b>5.] Launderi</b><b>ng: p</b><b>oop</b></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/4839046307_d5e6f83ef0_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div>Let's admit it, we're not perfect. Sometimes the odd poop-capsule gets into the washing machine, despite our best efforts. But luckily, cavy poop floats [count it, David Letterman]. I just let my washing machine fill up, agitate for half a minute or so, and </div><div>capture the unsuspecting victim(s) with a yogurt cup. I'm not sure if this is a problem other people have, but if so, there's my solution.</div><div><br /></div><div>Have you ever hit a snag when it comes to fleece bedding? Got a tiny tip to share? Need a solution to your problem? Please post in the comments--with or without a Blogger ID. :)</div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402362966707297530.post-70217507963177996912010-08-19T16:10:00.000-04:002010-08-19T16:16:09.642-04:00Milo and Winnie are back together!<div style="text-align: left;">And better than ever! After another buddy bath and an exhaustingly clean and odor-free cage, my two boys have decided that they can live together without tearing each other apart.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More posts to follow, as I was informed yesterday that I'm not working this week. For now, I don't have a problem with it. I can get my home life back in order.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4484567612_c579ba0231.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div><br /></div>SilverBeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16005263887151658276noreply@blogger.com1